News Release Archive

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/TOURISM-NEW PEAT MOSS COMPANY IN KENNETCOOK
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EDITORS: THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 7 P.M. THIS EVENING
A new peat moss company is setting up shop in Kennetcook, Hants
County this summer. MacDonald Peat Moss Ltd. will hire 13
employees immediately, with up to 50 more expected when the plant
is at full production in the next three to four years.
To date, the company has invested more than $1 million on project
planning and development. Land has been cleared and drained
according to the provincial Department of Environment standards,
and buildings are being constructed.
To help develop the operation, the province today announced it is
investing $400,000 to upgrade a bridge that will be used to
transport the peat moss. The province will also contribute
another $250,000 to upgrade access roads and install power.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is also lending the
company $350,000 to help cover start-up costs.
"This project is another example of how the government is working
with private sector partners to create job opportunities for
rural Nova Scotians," said Economic Development and Tourism
Minister Manning MacDonald. "With this innovative partnership,
everyone wins. The people of East Hants will get up to 60 new
jobs, the province benefits from improved infrastructure and
taxpayers will get a return on the investment many times over,
through royalties on the production of peat moss, taxes and
spinoffs," he said.
Economic Development and Tourism and the Department of
Transportation and Public Works will cost-share upgrades to the
Bishop's Road Bridge so that it can handle increased truck
traffic resulting from the new operation.
Said Minister Don Downe: "We're pleased to partner on a project
that is bringing much needed jobs to this province. It's a
creative way to get maximum return on limited infrastructure
funds."
"This project is an excellent example of a company which
identified an excellent marketing opportunity abroad and seized
it," said Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for ACOA. "In
addition, this facility will expand the company's export market
for peat. It's great news for Kennetcook and indeed the entire
province."
After eight years of planning, company president Florent Chiasson
said he's pleased that work is now progressing. "Nova Scotia is a
great place to do business. We're extremely pleased with the
support we've received from the government thus far. They have
bent over backwards to assist us in opening this new plant.
Thirteen jobs will be created right away, and we expect that
number to climb to about 60 when production is at full tilt."
MacDonald Peat Moss, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Brunswick's
Lameque Quality Group Ltd., has lease rights to 1,700 acres of
peat bog located approximately 12 kilometres west of Kennetcook.
The company plans to harvest 100,000 bags of peat moss in the
first year. That production is expected to climb to one million
bags per year, for a life span of about 50 years.
Mr. Chiasson said the company chose Nova Scotia as a preferred
site for several reasons. "First, the peat moss being harvested
is of a very high quality. Second, and almost as important,
Kennetcook's location near Halifax made shipping peat moss to
export markets more economically viable."
When operating at full capacity, the plant is expected to ship
about 3000 containers of peat moss each year, all of which will
be destined for export markets. "Proximity to the Port of Halifax
is a major reason why this entire operation is possible," Mr.
Chiasson added.
MacDonald Peat Moss has an established market with professional
fruit and plant growers in places such as Japan, Australia and
Thailand. They use the moss to regulate moisture and air around
plant roots for ideal growing conditions.
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Contact: Roger Gallant
Lameque Quality Group Ltd.
506-344-2293
Steve Fairbairn
Economic Development and Tourism
902-424-5836
ngr August 6, 1997 - 5:40 pm